Indicating device for air-brake systems.



G. L. GOURSON. INDIGATING DEVICE FOR AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS.

' APPLIOATIOH FILED APBJ, 1910. 990,707.

Patented Apr.25, 1911.

fizvenwir CHARLES L. CO'UBSON, 0F PITCAIRN, PENNSYLVANIA.

INDICA'IING DEVICE FOR AIR-BRAKE SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

Application filed April 1, 1910. Serial No. 552,875.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. GoURsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pitcairn, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicating Devices for Air-Brake Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements 1n air brakes and consists particularly of an indicating device adapted to be temporarily inserted in the train line between any two adjacent cars for indicating undesired quick action in the tripple valve. where such undesired quick action occurs it is very difficult or impossible to locate the particular .valve and results in very considerable trouble and unequal action of the brakes, resulting in broken trains and other accidents. y

The present improvement particularly relates to means for arresting and holding the indicator hand and for releasing it agaln.

In the drawings illustrating the invention:-Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the hose-terminals of/ the train pipes of adjacent cars with the indicator inserted be tween them. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the indicator on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line III. III. of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line IV. IV. of

Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an outside perspective view of the indicator case. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the vertically adjustable bearing for the vane. Fig. 7 is a detail of the locking mechanism for the vane. Fig. 8 is a detail of the vane. Fig. 9 is a detail of the indicator and the vane pivoting bearing.

Ordinarily, the train ipes of the Westinghouse or other air bra e systems are provided with hose terminals 2, 2,.having readily connected and disconnected terminal couplings 3, between which is located the indicator 4 having at each end short coupling extensions 5 provided with interfitting couplers adapted to make connection with the couplers of the hose in the same manner as the hose couplers themselves are connected. It is intended that the'dev'ic'e shall be readily and quickly inserted or removed from the train pipe terminals between any two cars for the purpose of testing out to find the defective valve, and in use it is inserted in the Ordinarily,

manner described between the ends of the cars until the indicator locates the particular car carrying the defective valve.

The indicator 4 consists of a casing or body portion 6 which may be rectangular as shown or of other suitable shape having a longitudinal opening or passage way 7 throughout its middle body portion and provided with terminal threads 8, 8, for connect1on with the short coupling extensions 5 as shown. Extending outwardly atthe middle portion of the casing 6 is a coping 9 adapted to receive a bearing disk or other suitable device 10, between which and the lower wall of the casing is pivotall mounted the stem 11 of the delicately a justable indicating element. Said stem 11 is provided with a needle point or other suitable bearing 12 at.

its other end, and the said bearing 12 is seated in a receiving bearing socket 13 in the upper end of a vertically adjustable rotatable stem 14 having a key terminal 15. The stem 14 is mounted in a bearing in the bottom of [casing 6 and is normally retracted by a coiled spring 16. v

17 is the vane or wing which is fixedly secured to its stem 11 b a hub 18 and when delicately pivoted by its bearing stem 11 is capable of deflection in one direction or the other by excess pressure of air againstthe wing, which as shown, extends across the transverse opening 7, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The upper end of stem 11 is provided with an indicating pointer or hand 19 arranged in 'alinement with the wing 17 and constituting the visible element of the device.

20 is a'transparent disk, as of glass, located beyond the indicator and tightly clamped within the coping 9 under a rubber gasket 21 by a follower 22. This construction is for the purpose of efi'ectually inclosing the interior against leakage.

The stem 14 is provided at its top with an upwardly extending partly circular flange 23 the ends of which are adapted to engage, in one direction or another, the side of the wingat its bottom, by which means the wing may be thrust back to its normal middle position, after an operation. I

For the purpose'of registering an operation, and locking the hand 19 in either deflected position, toward one end or the other, I have provided an upwardly extending abutment 24 secured in position below the vibrating end of the hand 19 by any suitablelows:--Having been connected between the upon a brake application bein defective valve in which the un esired quick Y I action occurs will be indicated, (due to the terminals of the train pipe for any two cars, made, the

more rapid exhaust of air therein) by the hand 19, which will turn in conformity with the deflection of wing 17 in onedirection or the other, and the hand 19 will-become fixed in position behind the abutment, recording the operation and indicating the direction of the flow. By first' thrusting up pin 14 against pressure ofspring 16 and then turning key 15 the hand may be quickly released and the vane returned to normal position.

I have found that, due to the undesired quick action and rapid change in pressure of the air in the train pipe, and the resulting flow of the air into or from the indicator cavity between disk 10 andglass disk 20, the

indicator is affected if such circulation of air is ermitted to pass around the stem of I the pointer or hand. To overcome this effect and to relieve the indicator of any interference, an equalizing port 25 is made through disk 10, permitting immediate equalization of pressure between the indicator cavity and the pipe interior. As will be obvious however, any other form of bearing may be provided for the stem 11 and the arresting devices instead vof the disk 10.

For the purpose of relieving the interior of the casing 6 from pressure before uncoupling from hose sections 2, 2, (the angle cocks of which are first turned to blank position) the stem 14 is provided with a valve 28 sealing against a closing seat at the upper end of the stem bearing hole 29. Y Said hole may be thus used as a relief port upon merely pushing the stem 14.- upwardly to raise valve 28 from its seat, thereby obviating any difficulty in uncoupling the device from the hose sections after use.

' In a long train, the device may be successively inserted at different points, indicating the direction of the fault, forward or back, until by finally locating it between the terminals of any single car, the valve is discovered. When the testing device is located remote from the defective valve, the operationv of the indicatorwill be comparatively slow, but when closely adjacent therea circulation opening, an indicating device subject to the pressure of the current in the pipe, means for arresting and holding the indicator, and means for releasing the indicator to allow it to return to normal position.

2. An indicator for air brake systems consistin of a chambered casing adapted for insertion in a train pipe line having a circulation opening, a pivotally mounted wing therein havin a visible indicator, arresting and locking abutments arranged in the path of the indicator for engagement therewith, and means for releasing the indicator to permit it to return to normal position.

3. An indicator for air brake systems consisting of a chambered casing adapted for insertion in a train pipe line having a circu lation opening, a-pivotally mounted wing therein havin a visible indicator, arresting and locking abutments arranged in. the path of the indicator for engagement therewith, and means for releasing the indicator to permit it to return to normal position consisting of a rotatable stem having a bearing terminal for the indicator pivot, substantially as set forth.

4.. An indicator for air brake systems consisting of a chambered casing adapted for insertion in a train pipe line having a circulation opening, a pivotally mounted wing therein havin a visible indicator, arresting and locking abutments arranged in the path of the indicator for engagement therewith, and means for releasing the indicator to .permit it to return to normal position consisting 'of a rotatable stem having shoulders adapted to engage and swing the wing, substantially as set forth.

5. An indicator for air brake systems consisting of a chambered casingadapted for insertion in a train pipe line having a circulation opening, a pivotally mounted wing therein having a visible indicator, arresting and locking abutments arranged in the path of the indicator for engagement therewith, and means for releasing the indicator to permit it to return to normal position consisting of a vertically movable rotatable stem having shoulders adapted to engage and swing the wing, substantially as set forth.

6. An indicator for air brake systems consisting of a chambered casing adapted for insertion in a train pipe line having a circulation opening, apivotally mounted wing therein having a visible'indicator, arresting and locking abutments'arranged in the path ofthe indicator for engagement therewith,

and means for releasing the indicator to permit it to return to normal position conrelief valve mechanism permitting exhaust sisting of a vertically movable rotatable stem from the interior of the casing. 15 having shoulders adapted to. engage and 9. The combination with the casing, 'a swing the wing, a turning key terminal, and pivoted wing therein subject to air pressure,

5 a retracting spring, substantially as set forth. and an indicator secured to-the wing; of a 7. The combination with the casing and a re-s'etting stem for the wing provided with deflectable wing therein having an attached a-valve controlling exhaust from the casing. 20 indicating hand, of abutments andinclined In testimony whereof I afiix my signaguides located in the path of the indicating ture in presence of two witnesses.

10 hand, substantially as set forth, CHARLES L. COURSON.

8. The combination with the casing, a Witnesses: pivoted wing therein subject to air pressure, C. M. CLARKE,

and an indicator secured to the wing; of CHAS. S. LEPLEY', 

